PCB forms committee over Akmal-Arthur saga

Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) stance over Umar Akmal’s accusations on national team Head Coach Mickey Arthur looked clear when a statement from the country’s cricket governing body ‘strongly condemned’ the batsman’s media outburst against the South African.

However, in a recent development, the PCB has formed a three-man committee to further look into the matter which seemed to be all but over ten days ago, ESPNCricinfo reported.

Akmal in a media outburst on August 16 said Arthur directed abusive language towards him in the presence of national selection committee chief Inzamam-ul-Haq when he tried to train at the National Cricket Academy with the Pakistan squad.

The Lahore-born right-hander also said his oust from the team was unjustified and biased.

The PCB statement, issued after hours after Akmal’s media talk, was of strong and clear nature as the board slammed with a show-cause notice.

“Head coach Mickey Arthur had placed Umar in his white ball format plans and gave him repeated chances for redemption. Unfortunately, though, the batsman remained incapable of reaching the required fitness level. The PCB awaits his response to the show cause notice issued to him yesterday and hopes that, in the meantime, the batsman will refrain from making baseless allegations,” the statement said.

The latest development, however, shows the dispute is not only unresolved but also wide-open. It is also expected to stretch even further with selector Inzamam and Arthur both out of the country.